Commerce and consumer goods industry demand the area-wide deployment of e-business

 An increasing number of companies in industry and commerce are collaborating on the basis of harmonised communication and process standards to be able to meet consumer demands better and more efficiently. Deficits still exist regarding the electronic exchange of business information, also referred to as e-business.

 According to a survey by the standardisation organisation GS1 Germany there is still room for improvement particularly regarding the supply chain, e.g. the standards for electronic and hence paperless transmission of dispatch notifications. "The area-wide deployment of e-business standards is the prerequisite for a systematic optimisation of the supply chain", said Zygmunt Mierdorf, Member of the Management Board of METRO GROUP and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of GS1 Germany. "E-business saves costs, improves data quality and reduces the burden on the environment".

 METRO GROUP is by now processing 90 percent of all invoices and around 80 percent of all purchase orders electronically. The target of GS1 is to enable all companies operating in the business to convert their business processes to e-business standards by late 2010. This resolution was adopted by the Supervisory Board of GS1 Germany on the occasion of the 10th ECR Day in Dresden. The panel comprises the leading retailers and consumer goods manufacturers. "Only if standards are actually used the potential benefits can be realised – this applies to both, retailers and industry", said Mierdorf.